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[1] These also are proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezeki’ah king of Judah copied.
[2] It is the glory of God to conceal things,
but the glory of kings is to search things out.
[3] As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth,
so the mind of kings is unsearchable.
[4] Take away the dross from the silver,
and the smith has material for a vessel;
[5] take away the wicked from the presence of the king,
and his throne will be established in righteousness.
[6] Do not put yourself forward in the king’s presence
or stand in the place of the great;
[7] for it is better to be told, “Come up here,”
than to be put lower in the presence of the prince.
What your eyes have seen
[8] do not hastily bring into court;
for what will you do in the end,
when your neighbor puts you to shame?
[9] Argue your case with your neighbor himself,
and do not disclose another’s secret;
[10] lest he who hears you bring shame upon you,
and your ill repute have no end.
[11] A word fitly spoken
is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.
[12] Like a gold ring or an ornament of gold
is a wise reprover to a listening ear.
[13] Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest
is a faithful messenger to those who send him,
he refreshes the spirit of his masters.
[14] Like clouds and wind without rain
is a man who boasts of a gift he does not give.
[15] With patience a ruler may be persuaded,
and a soft tongue will break a bone.
[16] If you have found honey, eat only enough for you,
lest you be sated with it and vomit it.
[17] Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor’s house,
lest he become weary of you and hate you.
[18] A man who bears false witness against his neighbor
is like a war club, or a sword, or a sharp arrow.
[19] Trust in a faithless man in time of trouble
is like a bad tooth or a foot that slips.
[20] He who sings songs to a heavy heart
is like one who takes off a garment on a cold day,
and like vinegar on a wound.
[21] If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat;
and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;
[22] for you will heap coals of fire on his head,
and the LORD will reward you.
[23] The north wind brings forth rain;
and a backbiting tongue, angry looks.
[24] It is better to live in a corner of the housetop
than in a house shared with a contentious woman.
[25] Like cold water to a thirsty soul,
so is good news from a far country.
[26] Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain
is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.
[27] It is not good to eat much honey,
so be sparing of complimentary words.
[28] A man without self-control
is like a city broken into and left without walls.
The Book of Proverbs is provided for non-commercial purposes by the University of Pennsylvania Center for Computer Analysis of Texts. Licensing information can be found here.
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